Cover for receptacles.



B. J. LEVIN. COVER PoR REGBPTAGLES.

APPLIOAT o v 962,710. I N FILED m 3 1909 Patented June 28, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' IIIIII B. Jl'aum/ er B. Ji LEVIN.

COVER FOR RECPTAGLES. APPLICATION FILED APR.3,1909.

Ptentea June 28, 1910.

5 EBT SHEET 2.

W/T/VESSES l, ,4V 7 f J. LEVIN. COVER FOR REGBPTKGLES. APILI04TION FILED A'PR.3, 1909.

Patented June 28, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Y ...l .m -IIL GIN lwffro f ATTORNEYS B= J. LEVIN.

COVER FOB REGEPTAGLES. APPLICATION FILED APR.3,1909.

962,710., l Patented une 28,1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

HVW n .A can ux ATTORNEYS B. J. LEVIN.

COVER FUR REGEBTAGLES. APPLICATION PILPD APR.3,1909.

962,710. Patented June 28,1910.

mums-SHEET 5.

INVENTU? I By 353.06m@

@wi/QM@ ATTORNEYS 'NITED STATES PATENT BENJAMIN J'. 0F SOUTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY.

COVER FOR RECEPTACLES.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN J. Levin, a vcitizenof the United States, and a resident of South Amboy, county of Middlesex, and- St-ate of New Jersey, have invcnted'certain new and useful Improvements in Covers for Receptacles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates more particularly to a device or cover for producing a vacuum in utensils or receptacles of various kinds.

Many classes of goods contained in sealed packages become perishable after the package has been opened and will spoil in a very short-time, owing to the presence or access of air to the goods. It is also a fact that many things kept in the ordinary way in households, hotels, restaurants Aand the like go to'waste by not being consumed within a reasonable time after their preparation, as

. there is no way to keep the samek fresh and in a proper state except possibly the ordinary refrigerator, but this and like classes of devices do not serve the purpose for keeping the goods for an indefinite period except by the use of ice and other expensive means.

It would be apparentthat if the goods once opened could have the air excluded therefrom, or in case of goods which are perishable by nature be held in a substantially sealed vessel or receptacle and air excluded therefrom, the goods, such as articles of food, could be indefinitely preserved in the same manner' as goods sold in cans and other l sealed packages.

It is often desirable, where articles have been cooked to preserve the same and to also retain the same heated or in a cold state according. to the nature of the article, for example to keep a dinner hot yin an iinary pail for workingmen and for many other purposes.

Ti', primary object of the invention is to provi a simple and elicient device which will nz "the requirements above referred to, and wr' "N may be made as an attachment to be a ied to theordinary form of pail or other Etage, and so arranged and held thereto the air may be withdrawn from ,e and the/attachment or device remein as a part of the receptacle for any desired length of time so as to keep the goods within the receptacle in the same con dition that it was when placed therein.

Other obects of the invention are to pro- Spciiicaton of Letters Patent. Patented June 28, 1910. Applicationled April 3, 1909. Serial No. 487,663. i

to produce a vacuum in or about one or more of said receptacles, and to provideg'simple means whereby the device may be-made to form a seal with the receptacle. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient attachment which may be made as an article of manufacture in the form of a cover, which has means mounted thereon adapted to form a seal with one or more receptacles, and which has means whereby the air within one' or more of the receptacles may be withdrawn therefrom to produce a vacuun.

A further object of the invention is to provide` a simple and efficient pumping means which is adapted to form a part of a cover or which may be used as a separate attachment therefor.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more; particularly described with reference to the accompany drawings, which 'form a part of this specification, and will then be pointed out in the claims at the end ofthe description.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical section, partly in elevation, showing one form of device which may be usedin connection with a plurality of receptacles. Figs. 2 and 3 are similar sections, except that the cover is made so as to form an air chamber. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectionof 011e ployed inA connection with the invention.

Fig. 5 is an eleva-tion, partly in section, f2" showing how one form of -devicej may be'.

applied to or form a part of a single receptacle.

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view ,taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 4. -Fig.7

1s a sectional plan, View taken on, a line VII-VII of Fig. 4. Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary sections showing slightly different forms of covers for a plurality of receptacles. Fig. 10 is a vertical section, showing *the'valvefof the .pumping means entirely independent of the pumping cylinder. Fig. 11 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the pumping device as supported` from a wall or other support, and the valve means held to the cover which is supported on a single receptacle. Fig. 12 is a side ele'vation, partly in ,fiection, of a ,different form o f cover. Fig. 13 is a detail elevation., partly in section, showing one form of connection for the exhausting means. Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view showing connections may be made with a plurality of receptacles from a single pumping element; and Fig. 15 is a side elevation, pai-tlv in section, of the form of device shown in annular groove or recess in which is adapted to be held a packing ring or gasket 17, and this gasket 17, which may be of any desired form and arranged in any desired way, is adapted to t over the upper edges of the receptacles 11, 12 and 13 so as to `form a seal therewith when the device is in use, the said receptacles being each provided with an enlarged or beaded portion 1S serving as a proper seat and engaging surface for the gasket or sealing means 17. The part 16 of the cover 14 is depressed, as at 19, to form annular engaging ribs which are adapted to engage and hold the gasket in position against removal, and said cover has an outwardly extending curved part 2O which is adapted to support a pumping element 21. rl`he part 2O has inwardly-extending flanges or parts and Q8 so as to properly hold and support the pumping element Q1. The pumping element :2l may be variously constructed, and may be of any desired form and held as a part of the device or independent thereof as desired. As shown it has a cylindrical body 21a, Figs. 4, (S and .7, and this cylinder may be provided with a head 22 at one end and may have its other end provided with a head or disk Q3, and 1novable within the cylinder is a piston 24. The piston may comprise two opposed disk-like plates 25 and QG between which niav be held a leather or other packing element.- l27 which is adapted to torni a proper connection between the cylinder and the piston to prevent. leakage past the same` and both plates ot thepiston may be provided with a conical portion 28 which is threaded so as to engage thethreaded end of a tubular piston rod 2E), or the said piston may be held to the part 29 in any other way. The piston is provided with one or more openings 30 for the passage of air therethrough, and over each opening is a valve 31 of leather or other material which is adapted to open inward So as to permit the air to pass through the ports or openings 30 on the down-stroke of the piston, andjto close the said ports during how the the 11p-stroke thereof, and under the piston and secured to the head or end Q3 may be arranged a plurality of springs 32, or other cushioning devices, which may be engaged by the piston on its downward stroke.

A sleeve or thimble has a threaded end adapted to engage a threaded opening in the cylinder end or head Q3, and projects inward l within the cylinder', and said sleeve has its outer end provided with openings 34 arranged in a guiding part or spider through which the stein 30 is adapted to move. On one cud of the stem 3G is a valve 37 which adapted to fit over and close a port or passage 38 arranged in a cap or plug 39. fitting the end of the sleeve 33, the lower end of the stein having an extended part 40 as a guide for the valve, but which will permit air to pass by the saine through the passage 11S. The stein .3(3 has an enlarged part 41 which may be serrated or toothed, as at 4Q, or otherwise formed, and around the stem and interposed between the part and the valve 37 is a spring 43 which tends normally to keep the valve 3T to its seat, and adapted to engage the large end 41 of the stem 36 is a gripping or clutch device 44. This device 44 may be of any' suitable construction. As shown it is provided with a plurality of spring-grip ping lingers 45, which, when forced inward, are adapt/ed to grip about the enlarged end 41 of the stem 36, so that when said device is moved outward it may be made to raise the valve 37 from its seat for a purpose to be presently described. T he device 44 1s secured to the end of a stem or rod 46, and this rod 46 is provided at its outer end with a gripping handle or ring 4?, and said rod passes through an opening 4S formed in the end of a handle 49. The handle 49 is secured to the end of the tubular piston rod 29 to adapt the rod and piston to be reciprocated within the cylinder 21, the said handle being provided with an annular portion 50 and with outwardly-extending fingering and gripping parts 51 to serve as better means for holding the handle to move the piston. The tubular rod 29 is internally threaded at its lower end, as at 51a, so that the rod may be made to engage the threaded upper end of the sleeve 33, by forcing the rod tar enough to permit the rod to be rotated and engage several ot the threads. This permits the handle 45) to serve as means for -arrying the cover as the rod 29 is held to the sleeve.

A tubular device 52 is secured within the piston rod Q9, and said device has an enlarged portion 53 from which extends the smaller tubular piston 54. The enlarged portion is provided with a cam surface or curved part 55 so that when the device 44 is moved outward `by the rod 46, the ingers 45 will be caused to engage the enlarged part 41 of the valve 36 and made to raise the valve from its seat, there being a certain amount device 52 is provided with a cap 56 which,

serves as a guide for the stem 46, and carried by the stem or rod 46 is a disk or washer 57 which is adapted to close the opening through which the rod passes, and interposed lbetween the cap 56 and the device 44 is a spring 58 which tends normally to force the device 44 downward. By this means the valve 37 may be moved from its seat automatically during the up-stroke of the iston or the said valve may be manually re eased through the rod 46 and handle 47.

The lower end of the sleeve 33 may be open to communicate direct with a receptacle or it may be connected with a plurality of receptacles, as shown in Fig. 1, and to secure this a cap member or device 59 is fitted on the end of the thimble or sleeve 33. Con-V nected to said device is a pipe or tubular connect-ion 60 from which projects a plurality of branch pipes or Adevices 61, 62 and 63 which lead to tlie interior of the inner receptacle and to the spaces between the receptacles, and each branch pipe may be independently controlled by a valve 64, so that by opening or closing one or more of the valves, one or more of the receptacles may have the air pumped therefrom.

As will be Seen, when the apparatus is arranged as shown in Fig. 1, and the valves opened to connect the branch pipe 61, 62 and 63 with the connection 60, and the piston 24 reciprocatedrby means of the handle 49, the air will be withdrawn so as to form a vacuum or partial vacuum within or about the receptacles, and the suction due to 'the vacuum will cause a positive sealing engagement between the gasket 17 of the cover, and the outer edges of the receptacles, though additional locking and holding means` may be providedv for the. coverif desired. As the piston is forced upward it will raise the valve 37 so that the air will enter the sleeve 33, and will pass into the space between the head 23 and the piston, and on the downstroke .of the piston the valves 31 will open and will permit the air to pass on the opposite side thereof so that by reciprocating the piston the proper number of times all the air or gases within the receptacles may be withdrawn therefrom. On the up-stroke of the piston the valves 31 will be closed, and the air mayA be made to escape from the cylindexwthrough a space between the rod' 29 so and the cap or head 22, or through a separate openingas 65, which may bc controlled by a valve or otherwise to prevent the piston from withdrawing air from without the cylinder.

In case it is desired to destroy the vacuum within any of the receptacles, thei handle 47 may be raised and through the rod 46 will move the device 44 and owing to the spring lingers 45 engaging the cam part 55 Will cause the lingersv to engage the genlarged part 41 of the valve stem 36, and will raise the valve 37 independent of the movement of the piston. This will permit air to enter vthe passage 48 through the opening; about the rod 46 in the cap 56, and the air thus enterv75 ing will pass through the openings 34,*-

`through the passage 38, and into one or` more of the receptacles connected'therewith,`\ so that the cover or device may be; removed from the receptacle or receptacles.

It will thus be seen that meatvegetables or other articles of food may be' placed in one or more receptacles, and that the articles by reason of the fact that the receptacles arev hermetically sealed, anda vacuum produced withinl the receptacle, any articleof food or other goods of a perishable nature may be indefinitely preserved, and by reason of the fact that a vacuum may be formed about any one or more receptacles, the goods may have the heat retained, or if cold retained at substantially that temperature for a length of time, thereby preserving the condition in which they are placed in the receptacle or receptacles. f 95 In Fig. 2 the construction is, somewhat similar to that shown in'Fig. 1, except that the cover is made in the form of a chamber, and the controlling valves leading to the different receptacles are placed within the cover. As shown the receptacles may loe` engaged by a asket 66, held within a recess in a base or ottom plate 67.I This plate 67 may have la substantially central open, ing 68 formed bya ange 69, and this opening may be closed lo a cap-70. The recess i for the gasket or sealingv means 66 is formed by extending or de ressing the plate 67 inward and forming he same with an annular part 71 which corresponds with the part 72 of the marginal wall 73, and said plate or part 67, with the cover top 74 which supports the pumping device 21 as already described, forms a chamber 75. The connections 76, 77 and 78 communicate with the spaces-between the receptacles and the interior of the inner receptacle in order that the air may be withdrawn'therefromi A connection 7 9 is'provided to communicate with the interior of the cover or the chamber 75, and each of the connections 76, '77,' 78 and 79, are separately and independently connected to a pipe or connection 8O leading to the device 81 forming a part of the. pumping element 21, and each connection is lndepend- 125 ently controlled by a valve 82, the stem of which projects outward beyond the cover top 474, and on each of said valve stems 83 is a handle 84. for the purpose of operating the valveefrom outside the cover. It 1'30 from any or all of the receptacles.

is desirable in some cases to place the several connections Within the cover as the general appearance and eitect of the cover is improved.

Fig. 3 shows a somewhat different arrangement ot the several connections leading to the pumping elements. The device is provided with an air space 85 formed between the base 86, and the cover top 87, and leading 'from the connection 33 of the pumping element 21 are a plurality of pipes 83, 90, 01 and 92 which connect With the device S8. rihre connection 89 opens Within the chamber 85, and leading from the connections 90, 91 and 92 are the pipes 93, @4f and 95, respectively, the `former of 'which communicate with the interior of the `inner receptacle. or vessel 13, and the t-ivo latter with the spaces between the receptacles. Each of the connections is cont-rolled hy a valve 9G, the stem 9T of which projects outward through the cover top, and on the outer end thereo't` isprovided with a handle 98 to permit each connection to he independently controlled so that when the pumping piston is operated the. air may be withdrawn The construction shown in Fig. 5 diers mainly in that the device or attachment is constructed to be applied to a single receptacle 99. r1`his receptacle S9 may have its upper end engaged by an annular sealing gasltet 100 held to the cover or device 101. r1`his device may have a chamber 102 forming an air space, and a. pumping eieinent 21 may have its sleeve 33 open direct into the receptacle 99 and around the cylindrical body of the pumping element 21 may be a screw cap or flange 103 which is adapted to titinto a threaded opening in the top 104 of the cover or device.

he receptacles 11, 12 and 13 may he engaged by independent ribs formed as a part ot' V4a gasket 10S which is held to the cover or device as shown in Fig. 8, or the receptacles may he of different sizes so that the upper edge ot one may be higher than the other, and the edges of the different receptacles may be held in sealing Contact with the beveled or inclined gasketJ 106 held to the cover top as shown in Fig. 9.

The construction shown in Figs. 10 and 1l is such that the pumping element may be iinlependcnt ot thegvalve device, hut connected thereto, and said element may he snpported by brackets to a wall or other support or in any other desired location. As shown in lig. 1t).l the sleeve or easing 107 may be heid to the cover top, and within the casio;r may he arranged a plug 108 which is provided with an opening or passage 10i) controlled by a valve 110, from which projects a rod 111 in substantially the same manne1 as disclosed in Fig. f1. The lower end of the casing 10? may be provided with a ange 112, and with a threaded end to which is held a cap 113. r1`his cap 113 is provided with an annular groove 114 and with one or more openings 115 communicating with said groove, and the interior ofthe.

cap, and tting about the cap is a sleeve or member 11G, there being a packing 117 between the sleeve and cap and the flange 112 to form a tight joint.. The sleeve 116 has a nipple 118 projecting outward therefrom, and to this nipple may be connected the connection or connections leading to one or more of the receptacles whereby the air may be withdrawn from the receptacle or receptacles into the casing 10T in substantially the manner setforth in connection with the other figures. The connections or devices 59, 81 and S8 may be of substantially the same construction as the cap 113 and sleeve 116 forming means for the attachment ot' the several connections leading from the several receptacles. The casing or sleeve 10T may be provided with a handle 119 which may be fastened to the upper end of said casing by a threaded plugy 120 or otherwise, and this handle may serve as means for handling the cover or device.. and projecting outward from the casing 10T a tubular part 121. The tubular part may connect with the pumping element or adapted to tit the tubular part is a device 122. This de` vice 122 has a cap portion 123, and a stein portion 121 which is adapted to pass through the tubular part 121 and engage the valve rod 111 to raise the valve 110 'from its Seat. in case it is desired to permit air to enter from Without and to pass within one or more of the receptacles connected with the device.

11 ig. 11 shows a device in which the valve portion and4 the pumping portion are independent. A single receptacle 125 is provided, and the cover or device 126 has a gasket 12T adapted to engage the receptacle in substantially the same manner as shown in Fig. 5, and the top 12S of the cover may be provided with an opening 129, on which may he a cap 130 for the purpose of destroying the vacuum Within the receptacle 125, The valve sleeve or casing 131 may communicate direct to the interior of the receptacle 125, or said receptacle may not only communicate with said receptacle but may also be provided with a connection, as 132. leading Jfrom the. casing as shown in dotted lines to be connected with one or more receptacles `trom which air may be exhausted. The casingl or sleeve 131 may he provided at its upper end with a handle 133 to raise the cover. and within the casing is a valve 131 which connects with a stem 135 and is normally forced downward by a spring` 13G, and on the outer end of the stem or rod 135 is a handle 137 by which the valve may be manually raised. The casiniT is provided with a projecting portion 138, and attached to this portion is a tube or connection 139, the other end of which is connected toa device 149, substantially similar to the device show'n at the lower end of the casing 107 inF 10, and this device 140 communi- Catesl with the pumping cylinder 141 in which is a plunger which is adapted to be operatedf by a handle 142, substantially as shown in Fig. 4. The cylinder 140 is suspended or supported by brackets 143, and as the piston reciprocates, the valve 134 will be raised to exhaust the air from the rece tacle '125 to form a vacuum therein, and in case it is desired to destroy the vacuum to remove the cover 126, the valve 134 maybe manually operated by the handle 137 so that the air will enter from -the outside within the casing or sleeve 131 and will pass into the receptacle. i

Fig. 12 shows a construction somewhat similar to Fig. 1, except that instead of a single gasket forming a sealing contact with the receptacles, there is a separate gasket or sealing means for each receptacle. 4As shown in this ligure, the receptacles 144, 145 and146 are arranged in the form of a nest one within the other, and these receptacles zare adapted to contain different goods or articles, and may' be supported within each other in any desired way or they may' be held and suspended by reason of the action of the vacuum in causing the upper edge of the receptacles to form a sealing Contact with the cover or device 147. The top :148 and the base or bottoni 149 form a chamber 150, and the base or bottom 149 is provided with a plurality of grooves 151 in each of which is a gasket 152 one for each receptacle. The pumping element 153 is-supported` in the cover or device 147 in substantiall the same manner as already described, an leading from the pumping deviceisa connection 154 which connects with a head or multiple connection 155, from which leads a plurality of pipes 156, 157 and 158" each of which may be controlled by a valve 159 to permit the air from and between the several receptacles to be withdrawn when the pumping device 153 is operated as4 already described.

Fig. 13': shows one forni of connection', and this connection has a body 160 in which may be .arranged a valve 161, and the ends of said gbody are enlarged to form tubular bosses 162. These tubular bosses are tapered, and in said bosses are tapered plugs 163eachof which is provided with aii annular groove 164, and with one or `more openingsi 165. The plugs may be hollow and the; groove thereof communicates with thebody 160 and said plugs are provided with a slotted top 168 by which the same may be rotated, and under the top may be provided with a packing ring 169 to forni a tight joint. The air or gas may enter one of the plugs at one end, and pass into the body portion 160, past the valve 161, and into the opening 165 of the other plug,

and as the latter is hollow the gas will pass 4170, 171 and 172 have the device l173 provided with a common sealing gasket or part 174, and leading from the pumping element` 175 is a connection 176 which extends outward through the cover top 177 vand is connected by a pipe 178 to ja number of branches, and from these branches lead connections to the several receptaclesto withdraw the air therefrom, and each of the said connections may be controlled by a valve 179.

By the term V receptacle is included any form or construction of device to which the invention may be applied. l

From the foregoing it will be seen .that simple and elicieiit means.' are provided whereby air may be withdrawn from articles of food held in a suitable receptacle and iii this waypreserved, or the said means may be utilized to retain a body iii either a cold or a hot state according to its natural condition so as to adapt the means to be utilized for the purpose of keeping articles of food an indefinite length of time or to be utilized for holding and keepinga lunch hot, or for similar purposes; that said device may be made as an attachment or as a part of the receptacle or a number of receptacles; that said device .may be made of any desired size to adapt: it to hold any number of articles to be preserved orto be held in its natural condition; that said device may be easily applied toorremoved from a receptacle; that said device maybe made of any desired form and shape; that simple pumping means and valve-operating mechanism are provided, and that said device may be utilized to be applied to kitchen or restaurant utensils, fruit -jars and the like, canned goods and in various other connections, such for example, as articles of food carried for yachting, hunting and traveling purposes. Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination with a plurality of receptacles, arranged one within the other, and having their upper edges in the same plane,

' lexhausting the air from 2. The combination with a plurality of re-- ceptacles arranged one within the other, and having their upper edges in the same plane, of a cover serving as a closure for all of said receptacles, gasket *on its under surface resting on the receptacles, a pump forming a portion of the cover for exhausting the air from said receptacles, andan independent connection between said pump, and each Iof said receptacles. l

3. The combination v'with' a plurality of rev ceptacles arranged one Within the other and having their upper edges in the same' plane, of a cover serving as a closure for all of said receptacles, and provided with a sealing gasket on its under surface resting on the receptacles, a pump forming a portion of the cover for exhausting the air from said receptacles, and an independent connection between said pump and each of said receptacles, said connections said gasket.

4. The combination with a plurality of receptacles arra'nged one Within the other, and having their upper edges inthe same plane, of a cover serving as a closure for all of said receptacles, and formed on its under surface with an annular` lgroove a sealing gasket extending through 4Within said groove, a pump forming afpartl of said cover for exhausting the air om said receptacles, and valved connections between said pump and receptacles.

5. The combination with a plurality of receptacles arranged one Within the other, and having their upper edges in receptacles and gasket resting on sald receptacles,

and provided with a sealing `,between the pump and cf a cover serving as the same plane, of a cover serving as a closure for all of said ecarte adapted to create 6. The'cornbination with a plurality of receptacles arranged onevvvithin thel other, and having their upper edges in the same plane, of a cover serving as a closure for all of said receptacles and provided with a sealing gasket resting on the -up er edge of each receptacle, an air pump ibrming the central portion of said cover, and pipe connections receptacles.

7 The combination with a plurality of receptacles arranged one Within the other and having their. upper edges in the same plane, a closure for all of said receptacles and provided with a sealing gasket resting on the upper edge of each receptacle, and an air pump forming the central portion of said cover said pump being independently connected to each of said receptacles.

8. The combination with ceptacles, arranged one within the other, of a hollow cover provided with a sealing gas ket resting 0n the upper` edges of said receptacles, an `air pump supported centrally within said cover, a pipe within said cover andconnected to said pump, and pipe connections between the pumpand receptacles.

9. rlhe combination with". a plurality of receptacles, arranged onewithin the other, of ahollow cover provided with a sealing gasket resting on the upper edges of said receptacles, an air pum supported centrally within said cover an a pipe within said cover and connected to said pump said pipe having an independent connection for each of said receptacles.

This specification signed and this 1st day of April A. D. 1909.l

BENJAMIN J. LEvIN.

a plurality of re witnessed 

